Two Greek researchers at Columbia University have created an exciting new treatment for tough brain tumors in kids. They use focused ultrasound to help drugs cross the blood-brain barrier, letting medicine target cancer directly.
This non-invasive method doesn’t need anesthesia and takes just 15 minutes. It has already been tested on three patients with encouraging results. Researchers think it could lead to better treatments for children and possibly adults with other brain issues in the future.
Dr. Eliza Konofagou, a biomedical engineer, developed the focused ultrasound technology. Dr. Stergios Zacharoulis, a pediatric oncologist, researched the right drugs to use with this new method. Their aim is to tackle very aggressive tumors that cause serious neurological problems and can lead to loss quickly.
Dr. Zacharoulis is hopeful that these new techniques will improve success rates in treatments. He stresses the importance of sharing knowledge globally so that children everywhere, especially in Greece, can access these advanced therapies.
Even though pediatric brain tumors see a slight rise each year worldwide, they are still the leading cause of death among solid tumors in kids. Progress in treatment is tough mainly because of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from drugs.
Focused ultrasound provides a solution by temporarily making tiny openings in this barrier. Using intravenous microbubbles, ultrasound waves relax the cells, allowing drugs to enter in high amounts and hit their target accurately.
This new method is groundbreaking because it lets drugs work exactly where needed without surgery, pain, or risk to the patient. Artificial intelligence is expected to boost these advancements by speeding up the creation of new drugs and clinical trials that used to take years.
